Swift US move to extradite terror leader needed: Turkey

By Ahmet Sait Akcay

ANKARA (AA) - On the eve of a trip to Washington, Turkey’s prime minister on Tuesday called on the U.S. judiciary to take immediate steps to extradite the leader of the terrorist group behind last year’s defeated coup.

Referring to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), Binali Yildirim told reporters at Ankara’s Esenboga Airport: “Everything for the extradition of the FETO leader has been done. The piles of files can’t fit in rooms anymore.

"If this many files and documents aren’t enough, there must be something else involved in this issue. So the judiciary in the U.S. should take immediate legal action and do what’s necessary.”

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016 that martyred 250 people and injured nearly 2,200 others.

Ankara also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.

Turkey has long accused the U.S. of dragging its feet on Gulen’s extradition, saying it has requested his return with more than sufficient evidence of his guilt.

Yildirim’s trip comes amid signs of improving Turkish-U.S. relations. Both countries Monday partially restored visa services after a nearly month-long row over Turkish staffers of a U.S. mission arrested for alleged FETO ties.